Method of assembling springs in fastener members



A. 1. LEWIS. METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SPRINGS IN FASTENER MEMBERS. APPLICATION FlLED MAY 31, 1919.

1,357, 173. I I Patented Oct. 26, 1920;

Ill

INVENTOR /2 7 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J'. LEWIS, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Application filed May 31, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stratford, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Methods of Assembling Springs in Fastener Members, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to the manufacture of the socket members of snap fasteners, so called, the socket members of which are provided with wire springs of peculiar formation which lock the shanks of the other fastener members in engagement with said socket members.

In Letters Patent N 0. 1,305,182, granted to me May 27, 1919, is

disclosed an improved method of forming the wire springs employed in snap fastener socket members of the type above referred to and for inserting said springs into said socket members, and the present invention relates particularly to improvements in the latter step of the process, namely, that of assembling the springs in the fastener members.

he more particular objects of the invention will best be understood from the following explanation of one mode of carrying the same into effect, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic plan views, and Figs. 3, 4t, 5, and 6 are sectional views, illustrating difierent stepsin the process of inserting a spring into a fastener member.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a complete fastener member.

lVhile the method constituting the present invention may be employed in, inserting springs into other small spring receiving articles, the same has more particular reference to the introduction of springs into snap fastener socket members of the type shown in Fig. 7. A socket member of the-type referred to comprises a sheet metal disk 12 having a central hollow stud 13 constituting the socket proper and provided with diametrically opposite slots 14, said disk having an upwardly turned peripheral edge portion, or flange 15 inclosing a wire spring 16, it being understood that, after the insertion of said spring, the edge 15 may be bent downwardly thereover to retain the same in place. The spring 16 is of roughly semi circular form,having an outer coil 1.6 en

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920. Serial No. 301,012.

gaging the edge 15 of the fastener member, the ends of said coil being bent inwardly and outwardly upon themselves to form a series of convolutions 17 and the free terminals 17 thereof being, in the completed fastener, received in the slots 14 of the central stud 13.

As disclosed and claimed in my copending application filed May 31, 1919, Serial No. 301,014, the springs 16 are initially formed with their outer coils 16 somewhat flatter than the form assumed when the spring is in its final position in the fastener member, the spring as a whole being consequently of a slightly elliptical form with a major diameter somewhat exceeding the diameter of the fastener member into which it is to be inserted, as will be clear from a comparison of Figs 2 and 7, so that the expanded spring must be compressed slightly when the same is inserted into the fastener (such compres sion, however, being insufiicient to exceed the elastic limit of the spring), being thereafter retained in the device under a permanent resilient compression, which not only serves to resist accidental dislodgment of the spring from the fastener memher, but increases the effective strength of the terminals 17, causing them to perform their intended function with increased reliability. 7

It will be observed that in order to insert a spring of the form shown into a socket member of the character under consideration, it is necessary to compressthe terminals 17 outwardly in order to permit the same to pass over the central stud 18 and snap into place in the slots 14%. It therefore follows that said terminals 17, as also the sev eral convolutions 17, must, during the insertion of the spring, pass through the somewhat restricted annular space 22 between the central stud 13 and the peripheral edge 15. It will also be noted that, when the spring is inserted, the outer coil thereof must be confined within the periphery of the socket member, and where an over-size spring is employed the outer coil thereof must be compressed. inwardly to within the compass of the socket member. If the inward compression of the outer coil of the spring and the outward compression or" the terminals 17 thereof take place simultaneously and the entire spring is crowded at one time into the restricted annular space 22, it will be seen that the cenvolntions 17 will be subjected such spring Y this time fullyexpanded or under only 1 slight compression, and co l is compressed thereafter the outer and forced into place in engagement with .the peripheral edge 15 of the fastener, the terminals; 17 beingat this time free to expandrlownwardly into the fastener and laterally into the slots 1a. In this manner it will beseen that the insertion of the several parts of thespring may be caused to take placesuccessively instead of simultaneously, hereb I avoiding excessive strain upo lth sprite In accordance; with the present invention the foregoingoperations are performed as follows. Thefastener member 12 intowhich aspring is to be inserted. 's held any suitable work-holding device,- asfor, example, a bed oncarrierplate 18 .havinga-recess to receive said-fastener. Aspring: 16 in expanded condition is held .betweena. pair of suit- 1 ably formed plier; or. other jaws (which jaws 'maybeteither mechanically or manually operated) as, shown in Fig. 1, with the outercoil 16 foremost or directed toward the fastener member 12, and said jaws moved in thedireotion of the arrow,.,on;Fig. 1 to bring said spring immediately ,over said socket member, as shown in Figs. 2 ,and 3. With the spring in the expanded condition shown, theterminals 17,are-. separated by a distance approximatelyequal to the diametercof the central stud 13. A suitable mandrel 19,.of substantially the same diameter as the central-stud 13, and preferably provided with a recessed end tofit the head of said stud, .is inserted between, the terminals 17,into engagement witlrthe head of said stud, ,as. shown in Fig.- l. Thereupon the jaws ,may be movedtoward oneanother as indicatedabythearrows onFig. 4:, to compress the, outer-coil16 of thevspring 16 aboutthe mandrel 19 intoa sufficiently small compass to be received within theedge-15 of the fastener member, and the spring, forced downwardly into said member. The insertionof the spring is accomplished in suchia manner that the-terminals 17 will first pass fromthe mandrel19over the central-stud 13, eventually snapping. into, theslots 1 1 of the latter, and, after the completeor partial insertion of theterminals 17, the outer, coil 16 will .seat itself within the peripheral edge 15.

The operations last referred to may be 0011- In order to avoid this difiiculty, and

. d me pp ox ma ely filed May 31,1919,

t rm na coil of the spring to the fastener member and '21 "and the inward movement of the veniently performed by,means of an annular tool or plunger 21 of an interior diameter corresponding approximately to the exterior diameter or the mandrel 19 and an exterior equal to the inside diameter of the flange 15, said tool being movable downwardly over the mandrel 19, as indicated by the arrow on Figs. l and 5,

.andbetween the jaws 20, to force the spring 16 downwardly from said jaws and into the socket member, asshown ii -Fig.5, without permitting expansion of saidaspring until it is substantially in place. The plunger21 may be formedewith. a, .beveled lower edge 23, so that, when said plunger ,is' depressed, the central. portion thereof will force: the 17', from' the mandrel 19 into position about the stud 13 and eventually opposite the slotslc. l-Duringthe latter portion of this operation the jawsQO are brought 1 or compress the outer 7 within the compass of the fastener member, the terminals 1'1 being at this-time free to. expand downwardly into laterally into the slotslh and the outer portion of the plunger 21lina1ly forces-theouter coil of the spring to its seat in the socket member.

Thedownwardmoyement of the plunger jawsQO preferably take place simultaneously, as indicated by thearrows .on Fig. a, but these movements are so timed that the inner por tion of thelspring is-engaged and forced downwardly 1 by the inner; portion of 1 the plungerfil before the. outer coilthereof is fully compressedbyvthe jaws 20 and engaged by the outer portion of said plunger.

From the foregoing ,it will be. seen that, by the use of the mandrel; 19 ,against which any together; to. contract.

inward compress on of the spring takes place and bywhich the terminals are. guided into place, the insertion of a small spring under the necessary tension is greatlyfaci'litated and may be greatly expedited, so that the operation of. 'nserting springs'into successive fastener socket members may be carried on with considerable rapidity.

Hav ing thus described my invention, I claim: I r

1. The herein describedmethod of inserting springs into spring receiving articles, which consists in compressinga springabout a, mandrel held in contact with thearticle to receivesaid springandforcing said spring; fromzsa-id mandrel into saidv article. i

,2; The herein described method of inserting. springs into :JSDPlIlQ, receiving articles havingcentral studs,;which consists in compressing aspring-a'bout a mandrel held in engagement with the central stud of an article-to receive said springand forcinp'; said spring-from said-,mandrel into said article and about said stud.

, "The r-herein described method. of inserting springs into spring receiving articles, which consists in holding an expanded spring between a suitable pair of jaws immediately over an article to receive said spring, contracting said jaws to compress said spring about a mandrel held in contact with said article and forcing said spring from said jaws and mandrel into said article.

4-. The herein described method of applying springs having outer coils and free inner terminals to spring receiving articles having outer edge portions cooperating with the outer coils of said springs and central studs cooperating with the inner terminals of said springs, which consists in holding a spring with its terminals at opposite sides of a mandrel placed in engagement with the central stud of an article to receive said spring, compressing said spring about said mandrel, and forcing said spring from said mandrel into said article with its outer coil in engagement with the outer edge portion of said article.

5. The herein described method of inserting springs into spring receiving articles, which consists in holding a spring over an article to receive it, inserting a mandrel through said spring and into contact with said article, compressing said spring about said mandrel, and forcing said spring from said mandrel into said article.

6. The herein described method of applying springs having outer coils and free inner terminals to spring receiving articles having edge portions cooperating with the outer coils of said springs and central studs cooperating with the inner terminals of said springs, which consists in holding a spring over an article to receive it, inserting a mandrel between the terminals of said spring and into engagement with the central stud of said article, compressing said spring about said mandrel, and thereafter forcing said spring from said mandrel into said article.

7 The herein described method of inserting springs into spring receiving articles, which consists in providing a spring of an initially greater dimension than the corre sponding dimension of the article to receive it, compressing said spring about a mandrel held in contact with said article to within the compass of said article, and forcing said spring from said mandrel into said article.

8. The herein described method of inserting springs into spring receiving articlcs which consists in providing a spring of an initially greater dimension than the corresponding dimension of the article to receive it, holding said spring over said article, inserting a mandrel through said spring into contact with said article, compressing said spring about said mandrel to within the compass of said article, and forcing said spring from said mandrel into said article.

9. The herein described method of inserting springs having inner and outer portions into spring receiving articles, which consists in compressing a spring about a mandrel held in contact with the article to re ceive said spring and forcing the inner portion of said spring from said mandrel into said article, and thereafter forcing the outer portion of said spring into said article.

10. The herein described method of applying springs having inner and outer portions to spring receiving articles having outer edge portions cooperating with the outer portions of said springs and central studs cooperating with the inner portions of said springs, which consists in compressing a spring about a mandrel held in engagement with the central stud of an article to receive said spring and forcing the inner portion of said spring into its operative posi tion with respect to the stud of said article, and thereafter forcing the outer portion of said spring into said article and into its operative position with respect to the outer edge portion of said article.

11. The herein described method of applying springs having outer coils and free inner terminals to spring receiving articles having outer edge portions cooperating with the outer coils of said spring and central studs having slots to receive the inner terminals of said spring, which consists in providing a spring of initially greater diameter than the diameter of the article to receive it, compressing said spring about a mandrel held in engagement with the central stud of said article to within the compass of said article and forcing the inner terminals of said spring from said mandrel into positions to enter said slots, and thereafter forcing the outer coil of said spring into said article.

12. The herein described method of applying springs having outer coils and free inner terminals to spring receiving articles having outer ec ge portions cooperating with the outer coils of said springs and central studs having slots to receive the inner terminals of said springs, which consists in providing a spring of initially greater diameter than the diameter of the article to receive it, holding said spring over said article, inserting a mandrel between the terminals ofsaid spring and into engagement with the central stud of said article, forcing the inner terminals of said spring from said mandrel into positions to enter said slots and compressing the outer coil of said spring to a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of said article, and thereafter forcing said outer coil into said article.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR J. LEWIS. 

